Ballymena Academy 10 Belfast Royal Academy 7:IT WAS expected to be a closely-contested Northern Bank Schools' Cup final and that was exactly what transpired at Ravenhill yesterday.

Belfast Royal Academy started the stronger with their bulkier forwards winning better ball but, for a time, they were unable to penetrate the stout Ballymena defence. They had a golden opportunity to go ahead following a 35-metre break by outhalf Stuart Olding but, despite having support, the Ballymena defence proceeded to win the turn-over and clear their line.

After 20 minutes they did go ahead with a well-executed try. A neat chip over the pack by scrumhalf Conor Spence resulted in fullback Jordan Buchanan gathering and running in to touch down for David Cartmill to convert.

The north Belfast team continued to have the better of the exchanges but towards half-time a long kick from Charlie Simpson set up a try.

Callum Patterson linked with Simpson who passed back for the outhalf to make ground before linking with Caleb Morrison who touched down.

BALLYMENA ACADEMY: C Simpson; J McClelland, C Delpy, P Storey; C Morrison, C Patterson; P Banda P Wallace, G Dennison, T Patton, D Whann, M Rea, K Galloway, J Andrew, S McNabney.

BELFAST ROYAL ACADEMY: J Buchanan; E Devlin, D Cartmill, M Glover; M Robinson, S Olding; I Henderson, R Clarke, T Vincent, C Leckey, N O’Neill, D McCallum, N Sinclair, A Martin

Referee: D Wilkinson.